Page 10: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 1889)

IO " The two steamers, together with one barge and a lifting dock, are finished, ready for shipment. Captain Boutakoff left Liverpool March 25 (13th). " Your Imperial Highness' humble servant, (Signed.) "JOSEPH FRANCIS." "MARINE MINISTRY OF THE SHIPBUILDING DEP'T, )

March 31, 1861—No. 189. * " To Mr. Joseph Francis : " The letter which you addressed to His Imperial Highness the Grand

Duke, General Admiral, on the 25th March, with which you presented to His

Imperial Highness two drawings of corrugated iron steamers, has been sent to this committee, with a resolution from the Ministry of Marine, stating that

His Imperial Highess desired his thanks to you. The committee has the honor to inform you thereof. " Manager, BELLARMSKY. "THE PFESIDENT. (Signed.) "Major-General CHERNOFSKY." (Letter from Admiral Boutakoff to Mr. Francis.) "FORT NO. I, SYR DARIAH, July 2, 1862. " DEAR MR. FRANCIS—The new steamers of my flotilla, built at your works at Liverpool, are not yet launched, but I hope to accomplish it in about a month. The boilers, on account of the great difficulty of transport- ing them across the Desert, will not arrive before the middle of August, so that I shall not have sufficient time to employ the new steamers this year, but will give them a trial upon the Syr Dariah. The parts of the pontoon dock will be here about the end of August, giving us time to put them to- gether next winter. '" With a hearty shake hands, and my sincere sympathies with your northern countrymen, of whose victories I congratulate you, " I remain, yours most truly, (Signed.) " A. BOUTAKOFF."

On the launching of the steamers, the Emperor congratulated Mr.

Francis on the success of the invention by which the first obstacle that